MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART SAN DIEGO (MCASD) AND THE SAN DIEGO MUSEUM OF ART PRESENT THE ANNUAL AXLINE LECTURE FEATURING ARTIST ALFREDO JAAR

San Diego, CA—The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) and The San Diego Museum of Art are pleased to present internationally renowned artist Alfredo Jaar as the featured speaker for the 14th annual Axline Lecture on Wednesday, April 23 at 7 PM at The San Diego Museum of Art. Jaar’s video Muxima will be on view at The San Diego Museum of Art from March 15 through July 8, 2014.

Jaar is a New York City-based artist, architect, and filmmaker born in Santiago, Chile. Using multimedia installations, photographs, film, and public interventions, Jaar’s work explores conflict and complex global, social, and political situations. His celebrated Rwanda Project (1994-1998) examines the genocide in Rwanda, and other works have focused on gold mining in Brazil, toxic pollution in Nigeria, and the border between Mexico and the United States.

One of the most important contemporary artists working today, Jaar’s work has been shown extensively around the world. He has participated in the Venice (1986, 2007, 2009, 2013) and São Paulo Biennales (1985, 1987, 2010), with individual exhibitions at the New Museum, New York; the Whitechapel Gallery, London; Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago; and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Rome. He was named a Guggenheim Fellow in 1985, a MacArthur Fellow in 2000, and received Spain’s Premio Extramadura a la Creación in 2006.

In 1990, MCASD presented the first US Museum exhibition of Jaar’s work featuring the artist’s light-box installations. MCASD holds several works by Jaar in its collection, including the major installation Gold in the Morning (1986), which was recently featured in Behold, America!, an exhibition organized by MCASD, The San Diego Museum of Art, and the Timken Museum of Art.

Muxima (2005), a 36-minute looping video, presents various iterations of a popular Angolan folksong. A cinematic elegy to the people of Angola, the video was inspired by Jaar’s interest in African music. During the process of organizing his extensive collection of recordings made in Africa, Jaar discovered that he had several different versions of the Angolan folk song, Muxima, and the idea for this video was born.

This work, discussing issues ranging from the remnants of colonialism to environmental destruction, is divided into 10 cantos, each defined by subtle differences in the interpretations of the song. Jaar found that the music evokes the experiences of the people of Angola with a communicative power that animated images alone could not achieve.

Since 2000, MCASD and The SanDiego Museum of Art have partnered to present the annual Axline Lecture in honor of Jackie and Rea Axline, long-time trustees and supporters of both museums who in 1999 bequeathed generous endowments to both institutions. Hosted on alternate years by each museum, this annual event offers an opportunity to say thank you to current museum members, donors, and supporters.

A limited number of tickets will be available starting March 28. They are $5 for The San Diego Museum of Art and MCASD members, and $10 for general admission. The lecture will take place in the James S. Copley Auditorium at The San Diego Museum of Art.Tickets can be purchased at www.TheSanDiegoMuseumofArt.org.

Providing a rich and diverse cultural experience, The San Diego Museum of Art houses the world’s finest art in America’s Finest City. Located in the heart of Balboa Park, the Museum’s renowned collections include Spanish and Italian old masters, South Asian paintings including the Edwin Binney 3rd Collection of Indian painting, and 19th and 20th century American paintings and sculptures. The Museum regularly features major exhibitions of art from around the world, as well as an extensive year-round schedule supporting cultural and educational programs for children and adults. At The San Diego Museum of Art, exhibition text is always in English and Spanish.

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MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART SAN DIEGO

Founded in 1941, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) is the preeminent contemporary visual arts institution in San Diego County. The Museum's collection includes more than 4,000 works of art created since 1950. In addition to presenting exhibitions by international contemporary artists, the Museum serves thousands of children and adults annually at its varied education programs, and offers a rich program of film, performance, and lectures. MCASD is a private, nonprofit organization, with 501c3 tax-exempt status; it is supported by generous contributions and grants from MCASD Members and other individuals, corporations, foundations, and government agencies. Hugh M. Davies is The David C. Copley Director and CEO at MCASD.

Institutional support for MCASD is provided by the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture.